Cigarette lighter with magnetic compass



Dec. 1, 1970 w. L. BLOOM ET AL 3,544,253

CIGARETTE LIGHTER WITH MAGNETIC COMPASS Filed March 6, 1969 INVENTOR WALTER BLOOM JOHN SHERMAN SMITH ATTORNEY United States Patent O 3,544,253 CIGARETTE LIGHTER WITH MAGNETIC COlVIPASS Walter L. Bloom, Marietta, and John Sherman Smith, Atlanta, Ga., assignors to Scripto, Inc., Atlanta, Ga. Filed Mar. 6, 1969, Ser. No. 804,962 Int. Cl. F23d 13/04 US. Cl. 431-253 4 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A magnetic compass disc is located in the transparent and nonmetallic fuel reservoir of a cigarette lighter sufficiently removed from the metallic portions of the lighter to allow the compass to indicate direction accurately. The fuel acts as a lubricant, damping and bouying medium to increase the sensitivity of the compass disc and an indicator mark is provided on the fuel reservoir so that when the north-pointing part of the disc is aligned with the mark,

the influence of the metallic parts of the lighter is further minimized.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Cigarette lighters having transparent lower body portions constituting a fuel reservoir for the lighter and including decorative articles disposed within such fuel reservoir are in wide use but the articles disposed within the fuel reservoir serve no useful purpose or function beyond that of the decorative aspect.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is directed to the combination of a device disposed within the fuel reservoir of a cigarette lighter which not only lends a pleasing and decorative appearance but which also serves a useful purpose and function. Specifically, the invention contemplates the utilization of a magnetic compass within the confines of the fuel reservoir of a cigarette lighter, the construction of the lighter itself and the disposition of the magnetic compass element being such as to render the magnetic compass relatively immune from influence by the metallic portions of the lighter.

Specifically, the objectives of the present invention are achieved by employing a magnetic compass disc within the confines of the fuel reservoir in the transparent, nonmetallic lower body portion of a cigarette lighter, the magnetic element being of disclike form so that stabilizing, lubricating and buoying forces acting thereupon due to the presence of the fuel in the reservoir impart a substantial degree of sensitivity to the magnetic compass element. Furthermore, the pivot support for the compass element is mounted on one said wall of the reservoir and includes a staff projecting therefrom toward the opposite side wall and with the compass element having a central, dished hub received on the free end of the staff and thereby disposed close enough to the opposite side wall to prevent dislodgement of the magnetic compass element from the staff.

The cigarette lighter incorporates a nonmetallic center body section cooperating with the lower body portion to define the fuel reservoir and which is surmounted by the main metallic portions of the lighter assembly which constitutes the working parts thereof. The disposition of the magnetic element within the fuel reservoir is sufiiciently distantly spaced from the metallic elements of the lighter as to make it substantially immune from influence by such metallic portions. To further enhance this effect, the lower body section is provided with an indicator or mark with which the north-pointing portion of the magnetic compass disc is to be aligned, whereby when the magnetic compass disc is in such disposition, the influence of any 3,544,253 Patented Dec. 1, 1970 magnetic portions of the lighter which might tend to destroy the accuracy of the magnetic compass element are minimized.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENT With reference at this time to FIG. 1, the lighter shown therein and indicated generally by the reference character 10 includes a lower body section 12 which is formed of synthetic resinous or similar material which is nonmetallic and which is also transparent, the interior of this member being hollow to define a fuel reservoir chamber 14. A center body section 16 closes the upper end of the fuel reservoir 14 and, like the body section 12, is constructed of synthetic resinous, nonmetallic material, the center body section 14 containing a valve mechanism having a manually operable end portion 18 which, when depressed, allows transfer of fuel from the fuel reservoir chamber 14 to the wick assembly of the lighter.

The center body section 16 is surmounted by a metallic mounting plate 20 upon which are mounted a suitable cover closing spring 22, the wind guard and wick assembly indicated generally by the reference character 24, the sparking wheel asembly indicated generally by the reference character 26, and the metallic cover 28 for the working components of the lighter. The lighter construction, then, is characterized by containing, necessarily, a number of metallic working and component parts located at the upper end of the assembly, remote from the fuel reservoir lower body section 12.

As may be seen in FIG. 2, the lower body section includes the opposite side walls 30 and 32, the level of the fuel being indicated by the reference character 34 in FIG. 2 and the magnetic compass disc according to the present invention being indicated generally therein by the reference character 36. The magnetic compass includes a centrally disposed and dished hub 38 presenting the recess 40 within which the pointed end of a balance or support staif 42 projects, the staff 42 having substantially a pinpoint contact with the hub 38 and serving to pivotally support the disc assembly 36. The magnetic disc body 44 may be integrally formed with the hub 38 or separately constructed and attached thereto as indicated in FIG. 2, the disc 44 having an indicia bearing cover 46 properly marked with the points of the compass and aligned with the magnetic properties of the disc 44 to indicate compass directions accurately. The staff 42 is attached to a stand or base 48 which is adhesively or otherwise fixedly secured to the inner surface of the side wall 32 so that the staff 42 projects substantially normal to the opposed inner face of the side wall 30, substantially as is shown. The length of the staff 42 is such that although the apex 50 of the hub 38 clears the inner surface of the side wall 30, same is sufiiciently proximal thereto as to prevent dislodgement of the disc 36 from the staff 42.

The side wall 30 of the lower body section 12 is provided with a scribe line or other mark such as that indicated by the reference character 52 in FIGS. 1 and 3 with which the north-pointing portions of the disc body 44 is adapted to be aligned, as is shown in FIG. 3, whereby to minimize influences on the magnetic compass disc 36 emanating from the existence of the metallic portions of the lighter construction. It has been found, surprisingly, that when the compass device is aligned as shown in FIG. 3, the compass headings or bearings are extremely accurate. Moreover, the disposition of the magnetic compass disc in the fuel reservoir, the disc-like configuration thereof and the presence of the fuel cooperate to provide an extremely sensitive device. First of all, the presence of the fuel provides means whereby the device may be quite accurately leveled as for example by assuring that the boundary of the air bubble as indicated by the reference character 54 is centered with respect to the disc 36, thereby assuring that the staff 42 is vertical. Next, the presence of the fuel assures a proper supply of lubricant to the pivot point, it serves to buoy the disc 36 and thus reduce the bearing and friction loads upon the staff 42 and the fuel also serves to stabilize as well as damp any movements of the disc 36. cumulatively, these aspects have been found to give a surprising degree of accuracy for the instrument particularly when the same is used in the fashion shown in FIG. 3, with the north-pointing portion-of the disc aligned with the indicator line 52.

The present invention, therefore, is well adapted to carry out the objects and attain the ends and advantages mentioned as well as others inherent therein. While the presently illustrative embodiment of the invention is given for the purpose of disclosure, numerous changes in the surmounting the center body section and mounting a metallic sparking wheel and wind guard constituting the working parts of the lighter, and a metallic cover for said working parts, the combination of a magnetic compass disc disposed within said fuel reservoir remote from the metallic parts of the lighter, and means for pivotally supporting said magnetic compass disc.

2. In the cigarette lighter as defined in claim 1 wherein said magnetic compass disc is provided with a dished hub, said means comprising a base and an upstanding st'aif having its free end projecting into said hub and pivotally supporting said disc therefrom.

3. In the lighter as defined in claim 2 wherein said lower body portion includes a pair of spaced apart side walls, said base being secured to the inner surface of one of said side walls with said staff projecting toward the inner surface of the other side wall, said staif being of a length to position the center of said hub in close proximity to the inner surface of said other side wall thereby to prevent dislodgement of said disc from said staff.

4. In the cigarette lighter as defined in claim 3 wherein said other side wall is provided with an alignment mark for orienting the north-pointing portion of said disc in a direction to minimize the influence of the metallic portion details of construction and arrangement of parts may be "of the lighter on said magnetic compass disc.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,353,334 9/1920 Geslani 431-253 X 3,465,355 9/1969 Van Poppel 431138 X EDWARD G. FAVORS, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 

